Rotary engine.



No. 722.560. I PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. W. BUCKINGHAM. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1902.

' no MODEL. 11 sums-sum 1.

Witnesses I I lmlnior WLLIAM olmv 7 I, I i 4 Y PATENTE D MAR. 10, 1903.

W. BUOKINGHAM. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION. FILED JULY 15, 1902.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

I n venTor Witness es WILLIAMB UUKING m: Nonnls m'rr'zns 00v. Pnomumo.WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 722,560. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

' W. BUGKINGHAM.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED- JULY 15, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' Wiinesses Inventor WILLIAMBU KINGHAM fliiarne 31 m: norms PETERS coy.PNOYO-LITHQ. wasuma'rom w, c.

PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

MR m m E mm U A M WR m 6 2 2 7 0 N APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1902.

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APPLICATION TILED JULY 15, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-BHEET 5.

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No. 722,560. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. W. BUGKINGHAM. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15 1902 11 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

N0 MODEL.

Wit?) esses Alia-neg I No. 722,560. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. W.BUGKINGHAM. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 15, 1902. NO MODEL. I ll SHEETSSHEET I.

IPHUIIIID] Wiinesses Jm/en Z01.

' WILLL4MBVUKINOIMM W9 v v d No. 722,560. PATENTBD MAR. 10, 1903.

\ W. BUGKINGHAM.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1902. N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 8 @mmnu.

Witnesses In I/entor v WILLIAM BUUKINGHAM Q%, I J I,

I Afl'arngy cams PETERS do mmoumou WASHINGYON n c No. 722,560. kPA'TENTED MAR.10,1903.

w. BUGKINGHAM. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1902.

F0 MODEL. 11 BHEETSSHBET 9.

Witnesses [771/877 for WLLIAMBI/mma AM No. 722,560: f PATENTED- MAR. 10,1903. W. BUGKINGHAM.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 15, 1902.

no MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

Witnesses I Inventor VWLLIAMBUUKINGHAM THE ucmms PrrzRs 00.. mo'rouma,WASHINGTUN D c,

3 O 9 1 0 1 R A M D E T N ,E T A P ME AN HI m WE Y R A M WK 6 2 2 7 m NAPPLICATION FILED JULY 15l 1902.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

H0 MODEL.

. fm/eniar WILLIAMBUOKING Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BUCKINGHAM, 0F SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,560, dated March10, 1903.

Application filed July 15, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM BUCKINGHAM, draper, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Nos. 171 and 173 Riley street, Sydney, in theState of New South Wales and Commonwealth of Australia, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Annular-Chamber Types ofRotary Enginesand Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to those rotary engines and pumps which areactuated by fluidpressure and have an annular chamber provided with anabutment and a disk or piston barrel therein carrying sliding vanes orpistons, between which piston-vanes and the abutment the power isexerted. These improvements in such types of rotary engines and pumpsrelate to the particular combination, with the supply and exhaust ports,of a three-way cock to form a starting, stopping, and reversing valvefor controlling the admission of fluid-pressure to the annular chamber,to the peculiar construction of the abut ment with cod-piece andaccessories, to the particular combination with the piston-vanes ofdevices for imparting and controlling their sliding motion, to thepeculiar construction of adjustable bearings for the main shaft, and tothe peculiar construction of packing (a) between the ends of thecod-piece and the end walls of the cod-box, (1)) between the ends of thecod-piece and the end walls of the annular chamber, (a) between the endsof the piston-vanes and the ends of the chamber during part of thecircular travel, (01) between the piston-barrel and the end walls of thechamber, and (6) between the piston-barrel and the internal circularperiphery of the chamber; but in order that this invention may beclearly understood reference will now be made to the drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an end elevation of a reversible steam-engine embodyingthese present im provements; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional elevationtaken centrally through the supply and exhaust ports; and Fig. 3, alongitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the same on the line 3 3in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sectional elevations, to anenlarged scale, taken on the lines 4 4 and 4 4 and the lines 5 5,respectively, in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevation takenon the line 6 6 cam-track for said rollers.

ton-barrel and the expanding devices.

Serial No. 115,720. (No model.)

in Fig. 4, showing a piston-vane with its controlling devices passingthe abutment and cod-piece, while Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of thecontrolling devices of the piston-vanes, taken on the line 7 7 in Fig.6. Fig. 8 is an 'end view of the piston-barrel, showing the rollers ofthe controlling devices of the piston-vanes; and Fig. 9 is an internalface view of the chamber end or cover, showing the Fig. 10 is a faceview, and Fig. 11 a central sectional View, respectively, of splitpacking-ring between the cylindrical periphery of the chamber and theworking end face of the piston-barrel; and Figs. 12 and 13 are similarviews of a modified construction of such packing-ring. Figs. 14, 15, and16, to an enlarged scale, are respectively a peripheral face view andsections of the packing-fin g at the split, showing the holding againstrevolution with the pis- Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse sectionalelevation of adjustable bearing of the main shaft, taken on the lines 1717 in Fig. 3. Figs. 18 and 19 are end and longitudinal elevations,respectively, of a three-chambered compound engine constructed accordingto these improvements.

The casing 20, with its covers or end walls 22 fixed thereto by studsand nuts 23, forms around the piston-barrel 40 the annular chamber 21,in which the power is exerted. On the casing 20 and leading to it arepipes or ports 24 and 25, used alternately as supply and exhaust ports,these being joined up to pipes 26 and 27, connecting to the three-waycook 28, into which fluidpressuresay steam-enters byway of branch 29 andfrom which are exit-orifices 30 and 31. The plug of the cook 28 has athrough-passage 32 and a side passage and end exit or escape port 33 onthe casing. 25 is the abutment-box 34, in which'is the sliding cod-piecehereinafter described, and at the bottom are drain-pipes 35, connectedto drain-cocks 36. Above or before the cook 28 is fixed a governor 37and throttle-valve of any approved construction.

The main shaft 38 sits in adjustable bearings (hereinafter fullydescribed) supported by the end walls 22 and passes throughstuffing-boxes 39 with ordinary glands. On this Medially between theports 24 and main shaft is keyed or otherwise fastened pis-' ton-barrel40, carrying in pockets the sliding .vanes or pistons, as hereinafterdescribed.

From the main shaft 38 the power may be transmitted as ordinarily towhere required.

The ab utment-box 34 has a steam-tight cover and is provided with linersor cheeks 42, held in place by screw-bolts 43. The cod-piece 44 isadapted to slide between the liners 42 and by the pressure of springs 45(adjustable by means of set-screws 46) to bear hard upon the peripheryof barrel and make a steam-tight joint thereon. To prevent leakagearound the abutment,india-rubber or other approved packing 47 oftriangular section is fitted in a groove made by the chamfered edges ofthe cod-piece 44 and of a shoe 48 between it and the springs 45. Theends of said cod-piece 44 make a tight joint against flanges 41 of thepiston-barrel 40 by means of shoes 49, pressed toward said flanges bysprings 50.

- This cod-piece 44, having these steam-tight working devices, providesan effectual partition or division between the live steam and theexhaust, notwithstanding the revolution of the piston-barrel 40. Tofacilitate removal of the cod-piece, the shoes 49 are locked in place byscrews 51, being screwed into the sockets 52, though to allow freeaction these screws 51 are normally clear of the cod-piece.

The piston-barrel 40 has end flanges 41, and in it are three pocket-s 52for the radial piston-vanes 53, which are adapted to slide in and out ofsaid pockets. Each vane 53 has back rods 54 passing throughstuffing-boxes and glands 55 in the wall 56 of the barrel 40 to across-bar 57 internally of said wall 56, to which bar 57 it is affixedby jam nuts 58 against the power of spring 59 to allow for a slightamount of resilient adjustability to the pressure of the outer edge ofsaid vane on the peripheral face of the chamber 21. Each cross-bar 57works in guides 60, protruding inwardly from the wall 56, and it carriesupon its either end roller 61, fitting a cam-groove 62 in a liner 63 inthe inner face of the end walls 22. The formation or course or shape ofsaid groove 62 regulates the sliding action of each vane 53, extendingit across the annular chamber to receive the full impact of the steamand housing it in its pocket 52 as it passes the exhaust-port and theabutment with the cod-piece. There might be any number of piston-vanes,although I prefer three, Y

and with these the construction of cam-groove I have found mostadvantageous for the economic use of steam is that illustrated, Fig. 9.

The power or steam cannot pass around lengthwise of the vanes 53 byreason of the stuffing-boxes and glands 55, and it is prevented frompassing around the ends by means of a facing-strip on the barrel-packinghereinafter-described.

The piston-barrel 40 keeps the annular chamber 21 steam-tight at theends and on the circular periphery by means of a fast packing or splitpiston-ring 64,bearing steamtightly against the said circularperipheryand having bearing steam-tightly on its edge the end of theflange 41 of said barrel; The end faces of the barrel 40 and flanges 41conform to the face of the end walls and the liner 63 thereon and to therecess 65. The screwed end 66 of the barrel 40 and the ringnut 67 fitinto this recess. The function of this ring-nut 57 is to keep thepiston-ring 64 in place and tightly against the outer face of flange 41of the piston-barrel 40. This ring 64 carries asbestos or india-rubberor other packing inserted in groove 68.

A facing-strip or shoulder 69 extends from the ring 64 to meet the endsof the pistonvanes 53 and make a steam-tight joint against them, andthis. strip 69 may be nearly the whole way around, being just brokenaway at the split, (see Figs. 12 and 13,) orit may be but partiallyaround, Figs. 10 and 11, or only just where the steam is exerting itsgreatest power. The split 70 of this ring 64 is in line with thecod-piece 44, .and part of this split is tapered for the insertion of anexpanding wedge 71 to press-said ring hard against the internal circularperiphery of the chamber. In this wedge 71 is a cross-slot 72 to takeupon the head. of a screw-bolt 73 on the said periphery, which lookssaid ring 64 against revolving with the piston-barrel 40.

To provide for the wear in chamber 20 and specially for that caused bythe thrust away from the supply-port when the engine is drivenconstantly in one direction, each bearing is supported on bracket 75from cover or end wall 22 in the form of a pocket 76. In this pocket isbottom brass 77, side brasses 78, and top brass-79. Bearing against thesides of the pocket 76 and the tapered sides of brasses 78 arewedge-pieces 80 on the end of set-screws 81. As the screws 81 areadjusted in or out of their females the br'asses 78 will be movedsidewardly and adjust the bearings as required. A forked telltaleorpointer 82 on a pivot 83 embracing the shaft 38 will indicate whatamount of divergence between the shaft and the chamber has taken placeand also when adjusting the correcting of the same.

Lubricators 84 for the supply of oil to the shaft at the stufflng-boxesand into the cylin-- der are made, as shown, through both end walls 22,and through these walls are openings closed by doors 85, through whichthe rollers57 are get-at-able, if desired. Orifices 86 through the liner63 admit of the insertion of a spanner, &c., for the regulation of thejamnuts 58 of the back rods 54 for the adjustment of the travel andtension of the pistonvanes.

In operation steam is admitted (by manipulation of the hand-wheel ofcook 28) through branch 29 and passes through the passage 32 to oneorother of the orifices 30 or 31say to the orifice 30-whence it flowsthrough pipe or port 24 to the chamber 21 between the flanges 41 of thepiston-barrel 40, being confined there in by the packings described. Thesteam impinges and exerts its force upon the pistonvanes in rotation asthey protrude on passing said port 24 and force them around until theycommence to withdraw on passing the port 25, serving now asexhaust-port. The exhauststeam passes from said port or pipe 25 throughthe passage 33 in cock 28 to a condenser or to waste, and thus therotation of the main shaft 38 is assured. By reversing the cock 28 theaction is similar, but in the opposite direction, the ports or pipes 24and 25 conducting reversely the live and spent steam.

The compound engine (shown in Figs. 18 and 19) has its separate chambersand accessories constructed substantially as those hereinbeforedescribed, though by reason of the varying angles at which steam issupplied to the high and low pressure chambers the thrust and theconsequent side wear of the parts are neutralized or minimized.

The main shaft passes through the three cylinders having the two smalleror high-pressure chambers 87 outwardly of the large or lowpressurechamber 88. The small end cylinders might be detached from the mainshaft for facility in construction and for repairs. The exhaust fromboth chambers 87 meet and pass as live pressure to the supply-port ofthe large cylinder 88. The controlling-valves are made on the same axisand are operated by the one hand wheel 89. These valves and the supplyand exhaust ports are so arranged that the steam is supplied andexhausts at the lower port (instead of the upper port, as described inreference to the other figures of the drawings) of the smaller cylinder87, and their exhaust is supplied and exhausts at the upper part of thelarge cylinder 88. By this arrangement the power of the steam is evenlydistributed around the main shaft.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In a rotary engine, a casing, a revolving body insaid casing, an abutment in said casing bearing against the periphery ofsaid revolving body, a supply-port, an exhaust-port, means forcontrolling said ports, an eccentric groove in each end of said casing,and a plurality of sliding vanes 53 in pockets 52 in said revolving bodyhaving back rods 5t stufiingboxes and glands 55 cross bar 57 nuts 58spring 59 rollers 61 and cam-back 62 substantially as herein describedand explained and as illustrated in the drawings.

2. In a rotary engine, a casing, a revolving body in said casing, aperipheral flange at each end of said revolving body, the outer cornerof each of said flanges being cut away, a pair of stationary rings insaid casing, each fitting into the cut-away portion of one of saidflanges, a .ring upon each end of said revolving' body, revolvingtherewith, engaging with said cut-away portion adjacent to saidstationary ring, an abutment on the interior of said casing bearingagainst the periphery of said revolving body between said flanges, aplurality of sliding vanes in said revolving body, means for operatingsaid vanes, a supply-port, an exhaust-port, and means for controllingsaid ports.

3. In a rotary engine, a casing, a revolving body in said casing, aperipheral flange at each end of said revolving body, the outer cornerof each of said flanges being cut away, a pair of split stationary ringsin said casing, each fitting into the cut-away portion of one of saidflanges, means for expanding said split rings, a ring upon each end ofsaid revolving body, revolving therewith, engaging with said cut-awayportion adjacent to said stationary split ring, an abutment on theinterior of said casing bearing against the periphery of said revolvingbody between said flanges, a plurality of sliding vanes in saidrevolving body, means for operating said vanes, a supply-port, anexhaust-port, and means for controlling said ports.

4. In a rotary engine, a casing, a supplyport, an exhaust-port, meansfor controlling saidlports, a revolving body in said casing, a pluralityof sliding vanes in said revolving body, an abutment in said casingbearing against the periphery of said revolving body, a shaft for saidrevolving body, and a plural ity of bearings for said shaft, each ofsaid bearings comprising a bottom piece 77, side pieces 78, top piece79, wedge-pieces S0 and adjusting screws 81, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM BUCKINGHAM.

Witnesses:

FRED WALSH, PERoY MEWELL.

ICO

